Guro Dan Inosanto Seminar 2008

Saturday 5^th July marked Guro Dan’s annual seminar hosted by Bob Breen in London. This year, for the first time, members of the Junior Black Belt programme were invited to take part in the first day of the seminar and to witness first hand why Guro Dan has been such as great inspiration and influence on martial artists worldwide.

At over 70 years of age, Guro Dan showed his usual remarkable cat-like movements and encyclopaedic knowledge, presenting material from numerous martial arts along the way (all at breakneck speeds to challenge the best memories in the building). Material included, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Kali/Silat, Suntokan/Panantukan, Muay Thai, Shoot Fighting, Vale Tudo, Kali Stick and Knife-fighting (read descriptions of some of these arts at the Inosanto Academy website).

Members of the Junior Black Belt programme got to see first hand why it is that adult members of our Academy and martial artists from across Europe, get excited each year in anticipation of this seminar. They will also now understand why I told them they would be lucky to remember 25% of what was presented. Don’t worry each gets easier each year as you become more familiar with Guro’s style of presentation and the curriculum. Proof indeed that sometimes a notebook and pen are more useful than your gloves and gumshield!

Sensei Alex and I were both pleased to be able to have the opportunity to supervise our future Black Belts at this event. Who knows, in 50-60 years time it could be one of you inspiring the next generation of martial artists at your own seminar.

As Guro Dan has been quoted as saying, “We are all students; it is just that some people are further down the road than others.”